Manipal Academy of Higher Education has been named an Indian host institution for the US-India TRUST Fellowship 2026–27 alongside IISc Bengaluru and IIT Madras. Launched by US Ambassador Sergio Gor, the 12-month program brings American researchers to India to conduct advanced research across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
MANIPAL — Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has been selected as one of only three Indian host institutions for the inaugural US-India TRUST Fellowship 2026–27, university leadership announced on Monday, September 7, 2026. The initiative, launched in Bengaluru by United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, is designed to deepen high-end scientific and technological collaboration between the two nations by embedding top American postdoctoral researchers and early-career faculty across India's leading research centers. The development marks an important step in bilateral research diplomacy as both democracies work to secure technological sovereignty and accelerate joint innovation across critical domains.
Elite Academic Triad Drives Bilateral Innovation
Under the framework of the fellowship, MAHE joins the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) as the designated Indian host institutions for the program. MAHE stands out as the sole private deemed-to-be university granted host status alongside India's two premier public technical and scientific institutes.
The US-India TRUST Fellowship is structured as a 12-month residential fellowship program that brings American researchers to Indian university laboratories to undertake advanced research projects. Facilitated through a public-private partnership between the US Consulate General in Chennai and the three Indian academic centers, the program is supported by philanthropic commitments from founding sponsors Pratiksha Trust, established by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, and Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy, led by Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
The selection of MAHE follows its recognition by the Ministry of Education as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) and its rank among the country's top universities in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
Strategic Focus on Critical and Emerging Technologies
The fellowship program aligns with the bilateral Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) framework, established to accelerate joint research and development in strategic domains. Selected American fellows will collaborate with faculty mentors at MAHE across key focus areas:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: High-performance computing algorithms, data privacy, and ethical AI deployment.
Quantum Computing: Quantum simulation, quantum algorithms, and materials research.
Semiconductors and Microelectronics: Advanced integrated chip architectures and fabrication research.
Biotechnology and Health Sciences: Molecular medicine, drug discovery, and pandemic-resilient therapeutic platforms.
Clean Energy and Advanced Materials: Next-generation battery technologies, hydrogen fuel research, and carbon capture solutions.
Defense and Space Technologies: Aerospace systems, specialized instrumentation, and satellite payloads.
Fellows receive comprehensive institutional backing during their tenure, including a monthly stipend of $1,650, complimentary campus accommodation, research contingency grants, and laboratory infrastructure access provided by the host institutions.
Inbound Researcher Mobility and Institutional Impact
Historically, bilateral academic mobility between India and the United States has skewed toward Indian scholars pursuing advanced studies or post-doctoral appointments at American research centers. The US-India TRUST Fellowship establishes a structured reciprocal channel, drawing researchers from leading US institutions directly into Indian academic centers.
For MAHE, hosting US researchers across its constituent faculties in Manipal and Mangalore strengthens its global research standing. University officials noted that inbound researcher mobility drives interdisciplinary outputs, accelerates international joint patent filings, and lays the groundwork for institutional grants across both countries.
Impact on Researchers, Industry, and Tech Ecosystems
The operationalization of the fellowship generates practical benefits across several sectors:
Scientific Researchers: American fellows gain access to clinical populations, large-scale diverse datasets, and specialized research laboratories in India, expanding collaborative research horizons.
Technology Industry: Direct alignment with semiconductors, quantum systems, and AI produces licensable patents and commercial spin-offs that benefit hardware and software supply chains in both nations.
Higher Education Sector: Solidifies MAHE's standing as a private academic hub capable of attracting global technical talent alongside traditional public research powerhouses.
Public Policy and Diplomacy: Deepens civilian technology ties and creates working-level networks among scientists that endure across political and diplomatic cycles.
Official Sources
The institutional announcement, program guidelines, and fellowship objectives were presented during the official launch in Bengaluru by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Directorate of Research. Academic standards and fellowship guidelines conform to frameworks overseen by the Ministry of Education and the Indian Institute of Science Office of International Relations.
Quote Section
Addressing dignitaries and academic leaders at the launch ceremony in Bengaluru, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated:
"Every single day, we see incredible American tech leaders expanding their presence in India, and the TRUST Fellowship highlights the strength of this bilateral connection. As we look ahead to the next 250 years, the closeness of the U.S.-India relationship will be defined by this kind of collaborative research, shared innovation, and enduring academic partnership."
Commenting on the institution's selection, Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, stated:
"MAHE is proud to serve as a host institution in India for the US-India TRUST Fellowship. This fellowship offers a valuable opportunity for researchers from both countries to collaborate in emerging and strategic areas of science and technology. By fostering knowledge exchange and long-term institutional partnerships, the fellowship will contribute meaningfully to advancing research and innovation between the two countries."
Why It Matters
Global technology supply chains and scientific leadership are increasingly shaped by international research partnerships. By embedding American post-doctoral researchers inside top Indian research facilities, the US-India TRUST Fellowship fosters collaborative academic links in critical technologies like quantum computing and semiconductors. For India, having an Institution of Eminence like MAHE host foreign scholars validates its domestic research infrastructure and accelerates international scientific output.
Key Facts at a Glance
Selected Host Institution: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), named alongside IISc Bengaluru and IIT Madras.
Initiative: US-India TRUST Fellowship (2026–2027), a 12-month program for US post-doctoral researchers and early-career faculty.
Founding Sponsors: Facilitated by the US Consulate General in Chennai with philanthropic backing from Pratiksha Trust and Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy.
Core Research Disciplines: AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, clean energy, space, and defense.
Fellowship Support: Provides monthly stipends of $1,650, on-campus lodging, health coverage, and research contingency grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the US-India TRUST Fellowship?
The US-India TRUST Fellowship is a 12-month academic fellowship program designed to bring American post-doctoral scholars and early-career faculty to top Indian research institutions to conduct collaborative work in critical and emerging technologies.
Which Indian institutions are hosting the fellowship?
Only three institutions have been selected to host the 2026–27 cohort: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
Who funds and facilitates the fellowship?
The program operates as a public-private partnership involving the US Consulate General in Chennai, with founding philanthropic funding provided by the Pratiksha Trust and Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy.
Source: Official launch announcements from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India; academic releases by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Indian Institute of Science Office of International Relations; institutional records from the Ministry of Education.
